Sporting Director & Head Coach Gregg Berhalter

On his feelings towards Video Review after tonight’s match...

"It is yeah. It was crazy, it was just crazy to think that three calls were corrected. To me that’s just why they implemented the system, so you get things right, so you get major things right. It’s strange that it happened all in one game, you know, we may not get one our way for the rest of the season. But it benefitted us, there’s no question. It benefitted us, that’s why you do things. So major moments in games, you’ll get things right. Last week we were on the short end of one and this week, we benefitted form one. I expect that to continue going either way for the rest of the year."

On his decision to going back to the 4-3-2-1 formation...

"We wanted to get Ola [Kamara], Federico [Higuain], Pedro [Santos] and Justin [Meram] on the field together. We wanted to think about some of our attacking players who were available today and getting them all playing together and combining together. I think it went reasonably well. I think we defended well, and there was some good movements. Unfortunately, we had a couple early chances to score on and we didn’t. We’re happy with how it went."

On the performance of his defense tonight, with LA playing with 10 men...

"What I would say is that when the defense needs to be the most concentrated because you miss two penalty kicks, you’re winning one nothing, and they have 10 men. By nature as defenders, you have the tendency to get complacent. I think Jonny [Jonathan Mensah], Josh [Williams], Jukka [Raitala], Hector [Jimenez], Waylon [Francis] when he was in, I think they extremely focused and did an excellent job."

On how his team started the home stand...

"Yeah, I mean you could not have asked for a better result. I think that’s the most important part. We talked to the team how important these next three games are. We talked how we want to climb in the table. You talk about it, and now you have to do it. We did it, we got the job done."

On his team’s response to missing two penalty-kick attempts...

"I’ve rarely seen games where you miss two penalties. I think I’ve never seen that personally, I think it doesn’t happen often. I think we obviously wanted to score those goals, but I think it tested us and we needed to stay focus, keep playing and get an insurance goal, which we did in the end."

On Pedro Santos’ ability to draw fouls and changing the momentum of the game...

"So Pedro [Santos], as you know has been here two weeks and hasn’t trained much. It’s a credit to him for how much he wants to play on the field and help the team, that he can go and have that performance like that. I think he showed some of the combinations with Federico [Higuain] that we’ve been looking for. He showed some shots from distance, some technical ability in tight spaces and then finally getting fouled in key areas. But, I think what I like the most is the runs that he was making behind the line, that’s how they got the red card, was with him making a run behind the line. That’s something we are going to need from him."

On Federico Higuain’s performance tonight...

"I think he shows flashes of the game changer. He’s another guy that’s been working hard and wants to be on the field. You know, credit to him for getting back and being able to perform at that level."

On Waylon Francis’ injury status...

"We think it’s a slight hamstring strain, we are going to evaluate it tomorrow with an MRI."

On how his team pushed through after playing last Saturday...

"It feels like a lot of time has passed since then. Maybe it was just mental, we pretended there was a week stretch between Saturday and Wednesday. What I saw was energy, I saw the guys have mobility. You look at a guy like Mohammed Abu, he was cramping up on Saturday and the physical effort he put in today was outstanding. Wil Trapp in the midfield did a good job."

Forward Ola Kamara

On his team’s goal execution...

"I think we were going for that goal and we wanted to get the three points. We were really focused the whole game and as you said, we got the goals at the end of both halves and that was very important."

On Federico Higuain’s return from injury...

"It was nice, I think the attacking group was very dangerous, so that was very good. Pipa [Federico Higuain] is of course very important for our team so we’re happy to have him back."

On his team returning to the 4-2-3-1 formation...

"I think that’s the formation everybody is used to. I think effectively, the movement needs to be a little bit more fluid."

Midfielder Pedro Santos

On his first start for Crew SC...

"I feel good. I think we played a great game, we had opportunities to kill the game, but the final result is the most important for three points."

On his assist in tonight’s match...

"Yeah, I see Ola [Kamara] and Justin [Meram] with good movement and I tried to get them the ball. It was okay, he scored the goal."

On playing well in front of Crew SC fans...

"I think I played a good game. I hope the next game keeps going, keeps building and I help the team win the game and score goals this season."

On his movement off the ball...

"Yes, I’ve always dropped out in the games. It’s okay in the game and I feel good."

On if he understands his role in the team...

"Yes, I have a pretty good understanding. Gregg [Berhalter] has spoken with me, my teammates have spoken with me about it, so I have a pretty good understanding where I was and where they were coming in to the game and we obviously got a good result."

On his partnership with Federico Higuain...

"Yeah I feel good. He’s a great player that looks for space and I combined very well with him. I think for me and for him we have space on the ball and it’s good."

On how he feels heading in to the next match against FC Dallas...

"I’m a little tired now, but I think in the next days that I will recover and I will look forward to the next game."

On if he has finally settled in to the team...

"Yes. Since I’ve been here I’ve been able to speak with my teammates and things are going well."

Midfielder Wil Trapp

On three video reviews in 10 minutes...

"It does slow the game down, but I think in the long run he got the calls right. They had two calls go against them, but we had one call go against us. You take the time to get it right and players can’t complain about that."

On chances from rapid changing formations...

"I think we did a good job moving the ball side to side, being clean with our movements and had a good tempo that created a lot of chances for us."

On comfort level of playing with three in the back and other formations...

"The exciting thing is we have the confidence that we know we can win. Coming back to this once in a while as well as going back to the other formations. I thought the guys responded really well and versatility is key."

On Mohammed Abu starting two straight games...

"He’s been great. He’s been great the past two games. This game finding good spots, turning, playing forward. Always being available and winning tackles, he was great."

On his team’s success in high pressure moments...

"It’s important going on a stretch, you see time and time again every year that the hot teams are the ones catching fire at the end and making playoff runs. We feel confident that we are peaking and peaking at the right time."